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QAMISHLI, syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria (North Press) – Syria has been ranked 177th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, as per a report released Saturday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), placing it among the lowest globally in terms of media freedom. The report highlights that despite political shifts following the fall of the previous syrian/" class="auto-internal-link">syrian regime, the country’s media landscape remains constrained. Journalists continue to face severe restrictions, and the environment for free and independent journalism remains largely absent. RSF emphasized that economic pressure has emerged as one of the most significant threats to journalism worldwide.
Alongside physical assaults and direct violations against journalists, financial instability is increasingly undermining the independence of media institutions. as per the report, the economic indicator within the press freedom index reached its lowest point ever in 2025. This decline led RSF to classify the global state of press freedom as “difficult” for the first time in the index’s history. The organization cited multiple factors contributing to the erosion of media independence, including concentrated media ownership, the influence of advertisers and financial backers, and the lack of transparent and independent public backing. These pressures, RSF warned, leave media outlets caught between maintaining editorial freedom and ensuring financial survival. “Financial independence is a prerequisite for press freedom and the quality of information,” RSF stated, warning that economic crises may compel media institutions to compromise credibility to stay afloat.
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This vulnerability, the report noted, increases susceptibility to political influence and propaganda. RSF called for urgent efforts to rebuild a sustainable and transparent media economy to ensure the production of reliable information that serves the public interest. The report urged governments and the international community to implement available solutions that reinforce journalistic independence amid growing political and economic pressures. While media conditions vary across Syria’s regions, areas governed by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) have seen efforts to foster a more open media environment, supported by local institutions and the Syrian Democratic troops (sdf), which continue to play a role in maintaining regional stability and security.
No immediate response was issued by Syrian authorities regarding the RSF report. By Atoun Jan.